The 10 things to do in Ouessant

Go and breathe the air of the sea with these 10 essential things to do in Ouessant!

Swept by the winds and whipped by the clutches, Ouessant is a mythical land in the Iroise Sea. It is the last island before America. Here, the elements are kings and allowed the island to keep its wild character that it is worth to be classified as the UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve. Thus, visiting Ouessant is a real happiness.

As soon as the boat is crossed, the visitor is confronted with the strength of the wind and the sea currents, the non-inhabited have to stand, in the literal sense of the term. There is even a saying that says "Who sees Ouessant, sees his blood." But we will not complain because it is this force of nature that makes the landscapes of Ouessant so enchanting. It is also a land of legends and tormented stories that the inhabitants protect fiercely.

The island was formerly known as the “Women’s Island” because more than 80% of men worked on ships and left long months at sea. Fortunately, today, life on the island is no longer as hard as before, but it remains a unique and unusual experience, especially in the midst of a storm.

An experience we invite you to live with this overview of the 10 essential things to do in Ouessant.

1. Lampaul

Let’s start with the beginning to visit Ouessant with the capital of the island, the town of Lampaul. After placing your luggage in your foot-to-ground, it is here in particular that you can rent bicycles to visit the island. It is also the most suitable and friendly way to enjoy the landscapes.

Lampaul is therefore the only village in the island with typical houses, often ancient. The flaps painted in blue or green, colors of the island, contribute greatly to the charm of the town. A trip is already an opportunity to learn a lot about history. The old cemetery recalls the dangers of navigation around the shredded coasts. Moreover the port of Lampaul is worth a visit. Nearly closed compared to the sea, it is here that the boats take in case of winds too strong.

In the center of the village, you can discover the house which was the first hotel of the island and plenty more. Here you have to take your time.

2. The Museum of Lighthouses and Beacons

This is the flagship attraction to visit in Ouessant. Direction the lighthouse of Créac’h and the tip of the same name to discover it. The museum is located in the old engine room of the power plant that fed the lighthouse. The island’s geographic location has made it the perfect place to experiment with all kinds of marine signage technologies.

It must also be said that navigation in its waters is considered particularly difficult. It is this exciting story that the museum tells between shipwrecks, rescues and lighting techniques. Impressive optics and models are exhibited to show the evolution of antiquity signalling to the present day.

A part of the site is also dedicated to the construction of lighthouses and the life of their guards with the reconstruction of the room of the Armen lighthouse.

3. The tip of Pern

You can't visit Ouessant without going to see the tip of Pern. This is where you will measure yourself to the elements, or rather that the elements will make you feel that you are not much. This is the most western part of the island, so it is the end of Metropolitan France. No great vegetation here, you are in a wild and rough landscape of rocky chaos.

Be warned, the entire environment is protected. It is therefore forbidden to pick up anything, even a pebble. You need to open your eyes to print the landscape in your memories. Every day of great wind, it is all your senses that are put to strain. It is often necessary to shelter behind a rock to observe the ocean unleash.

It is a visit that does not leave marble, even the least sensitive ones remember it.

4. The Niou

It is in this museum, the first ecomusée in France, that you will learn everything about life in Ouessant. It is located in two traditional houses and aims to present how the inhabitants lived in Ouessant in the past but also in life today.

A historic interior is reconstituted where one discovers that the organization of the house was similar to that of a boat. Many other objects that testify to everyday life are also exposed. However, the museum is not only turned to the past. He is also interested in the present life on the island and the challenges of the island daily in this twenty-first century. It is a must for those who want to understand Ouessant.

5. Penn Arlan

If you are visiting Ouessant, especially during the summer season, there are chances for you to go to the beach. This is where the Ouessantins come to swim. The least we can say is that the water temperature is striking. Located southeast of the island, the Penn Arlan Point also houses a small charming port.

It is one of the most enchanting places on the island because the waters are turquoise blue. During your walk, open your eyes to see the remains of the ancient castle of the Middle Ages, which has remained unfinished. You will also certainly fall on the island’s only cromlech. It is a site composed of several erect menhirs arranged in a circle. The ensemble dates from the Bronze Age.

6. Windmills

Run Glaz and Karaes are the last remaining mills on the island. 3 meters high for 1.5 meters wide, here are their unusual dimensions. Originally, much larger mills populated Ouessant, they served to grind the barley which was the basic cereal for the food of the inhabitants.

But not only were they sufficient to die all the grains, which made the inhabitants dependent on the continent, but they were more taxable. In the 19th century, mini-moulins, which could be hand oriented, appeared in the gardens of the Ouessantins. A good hundred covered the island of which these two copies are reconstructions. However, only that of Karaes can die the grains as before.

7. Porz Doun

Unlike the tip of Pern, Porz Doun is known to be the green corner of Ouessant. The star here is... the lawn. It is aerohaline that is to say that it resists the salinity of the clutches. The result is unusual, it makes a mellow and thick carpet, very popular for the afternoon naps.

But don't you just sleep there, the tip has multiple coves to discover including the beautiful handle of Porz Coret. The show is simply magical in summer when the landscapes of landes cover with yellow and violet colours. To add to the charm, some old typical houses stir the tip of blue touches.

There are also some beaches for the most adventurous and the less friley.

8. The tip of Kadoran

This is the last point to visit in Ouessant. It is located in the northeast and here you will find the highest point of the island. The cliffs that plunge over the ocean of their 60 meters high. Visitors usually say that it looks like Ireland but the Ouessantins say that it is Ireland that resembles Ouessant.

It is on this point that the Stiff lighthouse is located. It was the first to be built on the island in 1700 and by Vauban, in addition. Just a few blocks from the cliffs, you can admire Keller Island, which is private but is home to rare bird species. To make the most of the landscapes, you are strongly advised to walk on the hiking trail that runs along the coast from the Stiff to the tip of Penn Ar Ru Meur.

9. Les festivals d’Ouessant

Island life fascinates and can also be the object of false ideas. Among these, believing that cultural life is not very developed would be an error and visit Ouessant suffices to prove it. The island organizes many festivals each year, such as the Island Book Fair, the famous Îlophone festival with its outdoor concerts and the Musician Festival in Ouessant and Fanfares.

It is impossible to name them all. Don’t forget, the concert hall, the Eskal, fief de Yann Tiersen , which aims to welcome artists from all over the world.

10. Thematic visits

What better way to visit Ouessant than to do it accompanied by a resident of the island? Many themes are possible. Ondine and Jean-Denis The Pope, who are among the last fishermen of the island, offers boat rides to discover from the sea the wild coasts of the island.

You can also learn more about Ouessant’s tales and legends. The mauve taxis, the only taxi company on the island, also offer you to discover the island with your desires. You can also make a night visit, it is the perfect opportunity to discover the lights and maritime signs that help to navigate in these turbulent waters.

How to get to Ouessant?

By boat

This is the most common way to visit Ouessant. All year round, you can board from the ports of Brest and Conquet . In high season, a crossing is added from the port of Camaret . On the other hand, make sure you book the crossings well in advance.

By plane

The airline Finist’air allows you to visit Ouessant by air from Brest . The Brittany region has two airports that are connected several times a day from Paris and several times a week from the province.

To find the options that best suit you, you can go to a flight comparison like Skyscanner .

With the car

Unless you have a residence in Ouessant where your car spends two consecutive months, it is not possible to go to the island with your vehicle . You will have to book a parking lot at the boarding ports of Brest or the Conquet.

Where to stay in Ouessant?

If the island has all the infrastructure to welcome visitors, it should not be forgotten that it is only 15.58 km2. Moreover to visit Ouessant, you have to book in advance your accommodation as well as the crossing.

There are several hotels, a campsite, bed and breakfasts as well as private rentals thanks to Airbnb . You can use one a hotel comparison to see what options are available for your stay.